Table 2 Frequency distribution of awareness of CRC symptoms and risk factors among participants (N = 400)
Variable | Frequency (n) | Percentage (%) | |
|---|---|---|---|
CRC symptoms | |||
Bleeding from the back passage | 267 | 66.8 | |
Persistent pain in the abdomen (tummy) | 211 | 52.8 | |
Change in bowel habits (diarrhea or constipation or both) over a period of weeks | 232 | 58.0 | |
Feeling that the bowel does not completely empty after using the lavatory | 138 | 34.5 | |
Blood in the stool | 259 | 64.8 | |
Pain in the back passage | 149 | 37.3 | |
A lump in the abdomen (tummy) | 272 | 68.0 | |
Tiredness/ anemia | 189 | 47.3 | |
Unexplained weight loss | 270 | 67.5 | |
CRC risk factors | |||
Eating less than 5 portions of fruits and vegetables a day | 133 | 33.3 | |
Eating red or processed meat once a day or more | 252 | 63.0 | |
Having a diet low in fiber | 243 | 60.8 | |
Being overweight (BMI over 25) | 189 | 47.3 | |
Being over 70 years old | 156 | 39.0 | |
Having close relative with bowel cancer | 256 | 64.0 | |
Having bowel disease (e.g., ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease) | 223 | 55.8 | |
Having diabetes | 97 | 24.3 | |
Drinking alcohol | 268 | 67.0 | |
Tobacco smoking | 266 | 66.5 | |